HEALTH BOARD CHIEF INSISTS FUTURE OF BRONGLAIS IS SECURE

A HEALTH board boss has told the Cambrian News this week that Bronglais Hospital will remain a district general hospital with a full accident and emergency department, despite leaked options suggesting the hospital could be downgraded.

The Cambrian News reported “It was feared last week that Bronglais could become a rural hospital with a minor injuries unit instead of a full A&E and a super hospital built in Carmarthen under options being considered by Hywel Dda Health Board.

But Bernardine Rees, the chair of the health board, insists that the future of Bronglais is secure.

And she said the health board would be using the Longley report into Bronglais and health services in mid Wales as a starting point for any service reorganisation in mid Wales.

Mrs Rees said: “For Bronglais, Bronglais remains a district general hospital. As long as I’ve been working in west Wales, Bronglais has been strategically important.

“What we’ve not managed to do previously is come up with a clinical strategy for Bronglais.

“But there is a necessity that some of our delivery does have to change.

“The clinicians in Ceredigion are having to work within the parameters of the Longley report. Longley said Bronglais is a strategically important hospital and needs to provide 24/7 care and emergency care. That hasn’t changed.

“I’m very clear that the challenge for the consultants in Bronglais is that we’ve got to make sure that it is sustainable for mid Wales.

“We’ve got a great team in Bronglais and they’re up for this and looking at things” here.